Hurt By Corruption Allegations, Anju Bobby George Resigns As President Of Kerala Sports Council

PTI

INDRANIL MUKHERJEE via Getty Images

BANGALORE, INDIA: Indian long jumper Anju Bobby George takes a rest during a training session at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) campus in Bangalore, 27 April 2004. A determined athlete, George is striving to give her country of one billion its first Olympic medal in athletics when she competes in the long jump event in Athens this year. AFP PHOTO/Indranil MUKHERJEE (Photo credit should read INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM -- Hurt by allegations of corruption levelled against her by state Sports Minister EP Jayarajan, India's lone athletics World Championship medal winner Anju Bobby George today resigned as President of the Kerala Sports Council.

Announcing her decision to quit, the celebrated long-jumper said it was not proper to continue in the post after "allegations" and "misunderstandings" cropped up against her.

An emotional Anju also said, "Anybody can kill sports but nobody can defeat a sports star".

Besides the iconic athlete, 13 other members of the council, including noted volleyball player Tom Jose, also resigned.

She declared the decision after an hour-long meeting at the Council headquarters here.

"It is not proper to continue even after hearing all these allegations. Me and my council members do not want to continue in the wake of such misunderstandings and allegations against us," Anju said.

She said those who did not like her decision to form an ethics commission to expose corruption and illegal dealings in the Council in the past were behind the cropping up of false allegations against her.

"I do not think the allegations had occurred due to any issue from the side of government or the Council. Those who fear the proposed ethics commission are the ones who are behind all this," she said without naming anybody.

"As a revenue official and an athlete, who participated in a number of international competitions, I could easily find out many malpractices in the Sports Council, when I took charge. I think the problems began there," she alleged.

"Even my e-mail ID was hacked. In such circumstances me and my council members decided to form an ethics commission to expose the corruption, harassment and other illegal dealings there," the 39-year-old said.